“The state of our union is getting stronger,” President Obama declared in his annual speech to Congress on Tuesday. Pundits framed the State of the Union in terms of this fall’s election. Instead, let’s focus on some ideas that would be good for Jackson and Michigan, with this and other editorials today.

What the president said: “... if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making products here. And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers.”

What it means: The rebound in manufacturing has been a bright spot for the economy, particularly in Michigan. Manufacturing jobs grew in Jackson and statewide last year, propelling the economic recovery. Jackson County’s largest manufacturer, Michigan Automotive Compressor Inc., is in the midst of a $130 million investment.

Obama suggests building on that strength, cutting tax incentives that he says encourage companies to send work out of the country and imposing a minimum tax on multinational manufacturers that do business in the U.S. Notably, he suggests tax cuts for American manufacturers.

Already, those companies have been hiring. It stands to reason they will put more people to work if they are paying less to Uncle Sam.